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Explore London coffee festival // Read about cafe innovations // See Newport’s latte art
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offee isn’t as simple as black and white anymore. Although caffeine is a drug, people love coffee beyond the chemical addiction. We are a society addicted to the culture of coffee. Working as a barista myself, I have been surrounded by coffee for many years and have developed a small obsession for it.
Welcome to the coffee edition of
b2
by Naomi Sandercock All photos are my own
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I believe coffee brings people together and I agree with Jackie Chan when he says:
“Coffee is a language in itself” When it comes to the culture of coffee, it would be difficult to not notice the
countless cafes and everyone carrying paper coffee cups. We see coffee shops on TV and probably one of the most famous is Central Perk from the US sitcom ‘Friends’. Even the last lines of the final episode is about it:
[Rachel] “Ok, should we get some coffee?” [Chandler] “Sure, Where?”
It would be impossible to not see how popular coffee has become. But how has this happened and will it continue? Whether you are an espresso expert or a coffee novice, explore the rise of cafe culture through this special edition of b2. 21.04.17 The Bristolian 3
Where have you bean? The origins of coffee are mainly down to speculation, here are a few tales to fuel your imagination.
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ccording to Ethiopian ancient history, coffee was discovered by goatherd Kaldi. His goats would bleat loudly and run around excitedly after eating some bright red berries. Curious, he tried some himself and experienced the same buzzing sensation. It’s also thought that the Ethiopian Galla tribe noticed an energy boost when they ground up the red berries with animal fat. They would eat this on long journeys for fuel and nutrition. One thing that is certain, the coffee plant ‘coffea Arabica’ is native to the Ethiopian region of Kaffa. Arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated. Coffee soon became a popular drink with the development of the first coffee houses in the middle east. The world’s first recorded coffee house was Kiva Han which opened in Istanbul in 1475. Around the 17th century, coffee houses started opening around Britain. They became fashionable 4 The Bristolian 21.04.17
Crazy on coffee - this is the estimated cafes in Bristol city centre
places to conduct business, gossip and debate the news. Bristolians had their first taste of coffee around 350 years ago. One of the most popular in the city was ‘Cooke’s coffee house’ on 56 Corn Street. Now, on the corner of Corn Street instead of Cooke’s you will find Café Revival, who proudly claim to be ‘Bristol’s oldest coffee house’. Bristol’s love for coffee has not slowed and now 350 years on, there are over 80 coffee shops in Bristol city centre alone - and more are still opening.
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Two steps ahead
Wogan Coffee’s roastery is full of different beans for Adrian to roast and test
Adrian Wogan has been around coffee since he was a child. Now at 54, he runs the biggest coffee roasters in the South. Naomi Sandercock visited the roastery in Bristol for a tour
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ogan coffee was founded by Adrian’s father, Brian Wogan, in 1964. The popularity of café culture only took off in the UK around the 70s and 80s, so this was a brave step to take. It was his passion for coffee that made the
of the coffee craze
was with my father, we’d always bounce off each other and taste coffee together.” Since Wogan coffee started, many other roasters and coffee shops have opened - over 80 in the centre of Bristol alone. But this isn’t just in Bristol, the coffee craze has developed all over the world and it’s not stopping.
business so successful, and it’s obvious that this runs in the family. Adrian’s wife, Claire Wogan, sees his love for coffee, “I’m passionate about coffee but not as much as my husband. He lives and breathes coffee, it’s practically in his blood. He
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worked with his father as much as he could, from the age of 16 until 27, when his father passed away.” Adrian was always interested in coffee, “Instead of going to school all I wanted to do was play around the coffee sacks and get in my father’s
way.” He sees the same in his son, James, “He’s got the same interests as I did when I was younger. He loves being here with the team, he’s got an excellent nose and palette - a better nose than mine. It takes me back to when I
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Maybe it’s because there’s so much left to discover, “The nice thing about coffee is it’s never ending, there’s so much to learn and I’ll never know it all.” says Adrian. Not too long ago, coffee was something drank at home. Most people were more than happy to pop open the tin of Nescafe. Now, you can’t walk down the street without seeing coffee. It is as commonplace as mobile phones - latte in one hand
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the number of people who drink coffee that isn’t instant. It’s like with wine, people are so interested in all the different flavours. Everyone is willing to experiment, I love that.” Adrian believes that TV is partly to blame for the rise of café culture, “The new coffee drinkers are interesting because this was originally a social thing, it was driven by lifestyle. I think sitcoms like ‘Frasier’ and ‘Friends’ made it fashionable to hang out in cafes. Then their coffee tastes developed. Now you’ve got at least two different types, lifestyle coffee drinkers and coffee drinkers.”
and iPhone in the other. Claire is in disbelief about the ever-growing coffee market as much as the rest of us, “What I don’t understand is how so many cafes can keep opening up and that none of them are going bust, I find it incredible.” But the competition is welcomed, “Having all the other roasters is great because it’s all enthusiastic young people, they’re the ones now to rediscover filter coffee and reinvent it. This adds another boom to the coffee market, it makes it exciting and talked about.” Although there were coffee bars 30 years ago, the demand for coffee hasn’t decreased says Claire, “I can’t see how the coffee culture is ever going to change, it’s just not slowing down.” “What I find amazing is
With no end in sight for coffee anytime soon, Adrian is planning to keep the business within the family. The Wogans will continue to have their stamp on the coffee business for a few years yet.
‘The nice thing about coffee is it’s never ending, I’ll never know it all’
But for now, Adrian will keep doing what he loves most: working with coffee, “I feel very privileged because I enjoy my job, there’s variety and never ending changes. It’s something I can experiment with forever.”
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The coffee guide for keen beans Barista talk can seem like a completely different language, this guide should decode the common espresso based coffees
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Bean to cup
t’s easy to not think about coffee beyond the brown powder that comes out of a tin or beyond the paper cup given to you by your local barista. It’s easy to forget that coffee comes from a berry grown many miles away. There are two main types of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta. Being 70% of the worlds’ coffee, the aromatic and flavoursome Arabica is by far the most popular bean. The tropical evergreen plant ‘Coffea’ grows coffee beans that are enclosed in a red
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Grow, roast, make and drink berry casing. With a five year wait until the plant reaches full maturity and a 25-year cycle, thousands of Coffea plants are needed every year to keep the world caffeine fueled. After being picked, the berries need to be processed, this can be done through wet or dry processing. Washed beans are soaked to remove the berry pulp to reveal the green bean. Dried coffee cherries are left out in the sun before retrieving the green coffee. Both methods produce different flavour characteristics. Once the green beans have been
collected, this is usually when the coffee gets shipped to other countries to be roasted and sold. Adrian Wogan, from Wogan Coffee in Bristol, imports a variety of raw green beans to roast and experiment with. “Each batch of coffee will need different roasting times and it’s all about experimenting. We usually roast our beans in the 90kg Probat roaster and we use radiant heat from underneath and conduction heat blown through to keep a balance.”
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Roasting coffee goes through a few stages, after slowly bringing up the heat there will eventually be a noise resembling popcorn, called the first crack. This is the coffee opening up. If the coffee is taken out at this point, it will be sharper and sourer in flavour. But if the roast is continued past the first crack, it goes into a second crack and more sugar is developed in the roast. This usually creates a more balanced and fruity flavour.
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Adrian has become a real master of the roasting process, “what we want to do is release the optimum amount of aroma from the coffee at the right period of the roast. So, I look at it, I listen to it and I watch how the coffee behaves. Then afterwards, the best bit: we can taste it.” There are certainly plenty of people that enjoy tasting the variety and diverse flavours.
Coffee has become the second most popular drink in the world, only beaten by water. Coffee can be prepared and presented in many ways: filter, espresso based, instant, French press and iced, just to name a few. There are endless possibilities so experiment, taste and drink to find your perfect cuppa joe. 21.04.17 The Bristolian 9
years. “I think direct trade is important for the coffee industry to move forward Having that personal connection between the farmers and JP is so important, it makes the coffee personal.” says Oliver.
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n independent and a big chain coffee shop situated side by side, which one do you choose? By Bristol’s Clifton Down train station there are over 4 cafés in a 100-metre radius. Two that stand out are Costa Coffee and right next door, Bristol Coffee House. They both opened in the same week, 4 years ago.
Personal tastes It’s the great cafe competition: independent vs. big chain. Naomi Sandercock visits Bristol Coffee House, Costa Coffee’s neighbour
So how have two rival neighbouring cafes managed to stay open? Oliver Cooke has been a barista at Bristol Coffee House since they opened and thinks it’s up to the type of customer, “We 10 The Bristolian 21.04.17
One reason why so many cafes are staying open is because there are so many coffees to try, “I’ve been told that compared to the places around us, our coffee has a stronger flavour. Apparently, the Boston Tea Party coffee has a mellower flavour for exaple. It all comes down to personal tastes and their interpretation. There aren’t any rules.” get a lot of particular coffee fans. We also get people that like the fact we pay extra attention to the making of coffee. We have regulars that wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else, it’s about personal tastes.” Independent coffee shops are great for trying unique coffee and Bristol Coffee House bring their coffee to a personal level. They use a selection of beans, some are from Wogan Roasters but the Colombian manager, JP, sources and imports beans himself from coffee farmers he’s known for
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Atmosphere is also vital. Whether you’re after the comfort of luxurious sofas overloaded with cushions or huge windows with ideal spots for people watching, there will be certain things that you look for in a coffee shop. Each café tailor their interior to suit various customers. “We have a couple of regular students that are in their final year, they can spend hours in here and have some coffee at the same time. It beats a library with no windows.” Bristol Coffee House has recently redecorated for a brighter, fresher feel to complement their relaxed music and floor to ceiling windows. As far as competition goes, Oliver isn’t too concerned,
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‘It all comes
A survey of 72 people showed that independent coffee shops were the most popular cafés to visit
down to personal tastes. There aren’t any rules’ “It’s good having Costa next door because it gives people context and a contrast, having a choice is a good thing. I don’t think coffee is going anywhere, it’s a great thing and people are addicted to it so that keeps it going.”
“Although people will have their first cup of coffee at home, I think people will still come to coffee shops to do work, have meetings and socialise. They’re a nice place to be and that’s the first thing a coffee shop should be.”
The development of coffeemaking technology has meant As much as we love coffee, cafes making coffee at home is so much aren’t just about the drink, it’s easier. about the culture.
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that he realised that he was lonely. “Let’s say about 40 years ago, I was out chasing girls, I had a different girlfriend every week. But there comes a time in your life, you’re past your sell by date.” “Before I retired I always had brand new cars, I used to go somewhere different every day like Bournemouth, Weymouth, anywhere along the coast. When I retired, that all stopped, I can’t do it now.” He likes to people watch and has noticed many others that visit Costa every day too. “I see the same people each day, they get attached to a certain coffee shop, like me. I also think coffee shops are a social thing, it’s somewhere to go rather than staying at home.”
Brew away the boredom By Naomi Sandercock
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here is a high wooden stool to right of the door of Costa Coffee on Bristol’s Union Street. It’s by the huge windows, looking out on to the vibrant
streets of Bristol, and this is where Paul sits every day. There may be many reasons why you visit a coffee shop. For 70-year-old Paul Meakin, cafes play a big role in his life. “I go to coffee shops every day because
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I’m bored more than anything.” “I come to this one in particular because of the atmosphere, the people working here always come over to talk to me and see how I am. I don’t get that anywhere else.”
Paul has been alone most of his life, he was orphaned at 11 years old and has never married. He surrounded himself with the latest cars and visited exciting new places every week. It wasn’t until he retired at 66
Paul’s nickname for Odeta is ‘pretty face’
everywhere now but 20 years ago, you’d never have them. It could be to do with pubs not being so popular.” For Paul, cafes are more than just coffee, they are
his reason to leave the house every day. “I’m going to keep coming here, as long as I can still get on the bus. I’ll come here every day until I die.”
Why do you visit coffee shops?
Out of a survey of 72 people, ‘going to a cafe for a social meeting’ came out on top.
Although Paul visits coffee shops, he doesn’t drink coffee, “I used to drink Americanos, but one of the girls working here, Odeta, told me I shouldn’t because of the caffeine I’m supposed to be looking after my blood pressure. So, I’m on tea now. Odeta really does care and looks out for me.” There are over 80 cafes in centre of Bristol alone, but Paul remembers when it was different. “Coffee shops are
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Battle of the baristas
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ewport latte art. Three words that, until recently, would unlikely be in the same sentence. However, a group of sixteen baristas made sure the latte art in south Wales wouldn’t be forgotten. Horton’s Coffee House hosted a Cardiff vs. Bristol latte art competition in February. Two teams of eight were pitted against each other to show off their best latte art skills. Many customers and coffee lovers turned out to watch the patterns being poured. Despite the busy café, the room was silent each time the dice was rolled.
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This dice decided which pattern the barista poured next. It has designs such as a heart, a swan and a fern leaf on it – each pattern requiring a completely different pouring technique and level of nerve. Josh Clarke, one of the judges, organised the event. He knows being a barista isn’t easy in front of an audience, “It takes a lot for a barista to enter a competition, they need the confidence and weeks of preparation. But it’s a great way to show off to people what they can do.” Josh has worked in the coffee industry for eight years and is currently at Clifton Coffee Roasters in
Bristol. He is constantly learning new things about coffee every day, “Coffee has become so popular and I think it’s the unknown that’s exciting. There’s always something new. I’ve heard it compared to the wine industry, there are always flavours to explore and try. However, the wine industry has a couple of thousand years on us so we have a lot to learn yet.”
Rugby isn’t the only thing that Wales and England rival in, now latte art is too. Naomi Sandercock heads to Horton’s Coffee House in Newport to see the baristas in action.
Fern leaf and heart patterns are compared on the judges table (left) The wooden dice decides the lattes’ fate (right)
cup in awe and the judges scrutinised each coffee down to the smallest detail. Each round was progressively harder, using smaller cups and more challenging patterns. But after 4 hours of the barista showdown, Renaud Poiroux was crowned the coffee champion and the Bristol team won overall. If Renaud’s pristine coffee making skills don’t prove to you his passion for coffee, his tattoo will – it is of the coffee plant: ‘genus Coffea’. “I’ve entered other coffee competitions in the past and always came so close
Hands were shaking, the audience peered over each
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to winning, but never did. So, this feels like a well-earned achievement. The first round was a bit nerve racking but it got better as the rounds went on.”
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They started with the barista competition, which is the biggest one based around espresso. There’s also latte art, tasting, cupping, filter coffee brewing – which is this one – and many more. They all test the barista’s skills to make coffee and their senses to taste coffee.” Says Mat.
Mat North organises the national chapter of the Brewers Cup, “The global association, the Speciality Coffee Association decided there was a need in the coffee community for barista competitions.
The Paintworks Events space looked minimal and the exposed brick work gave a rustic feel. Yet, this was the complete opposite to the sophistication and attention to detail that the competitors showed. The Brewers Cup is a global competition that focuses on
ompetitions are happening globally, from local ones like the Newport latte art competition to worldwide ones such as the Brewers Cup.
Renaud smiles proudly when he is announced winner (left) The three judges take their time analysing the latte art (right)
‘It takes a lot for a barista to enter a competition’
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filter coffee brewing and is divided up into two main rounds: compulsory coffee and chosen coffee presentation.
culture really took off. Now competitors are meticulously judged, it’s so nerve racking to watch. People take it much more seriously now.”
The compulsory coffee round is all about the baristas’ skill and taste knowledge. Competitors must brew an unknown coffee to the best of their ability, with only 30 minutes to practice.
“Every coffee is different in its own unique way, it all depends on the origin, how it’s grown, processing, roasting and so on. You’ve really got to get it right.” Paul has worked with coffee for 4 years and he has seen its popularity grow.
The chosen coffee presentation needs months of practice. Competitors are given 10 minutes to present and brew their chosen coffee. They must have knowledge of the origins of the beans and how they are grown and processed. The first barista, Stacey Barber carefully weighed out her coffee to the milligram. She couldn’t be missed with her bright pink hair. But once the 10 minutes were up, what was striking was the sweet tropical coffee from Colombia – Cerro Azul (Spanish for ‘blue hill’).
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ext up was Paul Griffiths from Clifton Coffee Roasters. As he set up his equipment and glass vials, it looked more like a scientific experiment rather than brewing coffee.
‘People take [coffee] much more seriously
Three weeks of preparation was all over in 10 minutes.
now’
“I think competitions like this inspire more people to try better quality coffee. It isn’t just ‘wake up juice’ anymore, there is much more of a culinary focus, like fine wine or craft beer.”
Spectators watched in anticipation as the judges first inhale, then slowly taste the coffee followed by much deliberation.
He is currently 5th on the Brewers Cup leader board and the UK finals will be held in Glasgow in May 2017.
Claire Sharpe helps coordinate the event and watches the competition each year, “it used to be so chilled before coffee
No matter the result, Paul is truly addicted to working with coffee, “this is me done for life, I’m coffee ‘til I die!”
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A Brazilian farmer that has been growing coffee all his life? A young mother from Colombia that picks coffee cherries each day to provide for her family?
Needing a hot and humid climate, coffee is usually grown within 1,000 miles of the equator. This line is often referred to as the “bean belt” and around 50 countries grow the caffeinated bean.
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Brazil tops the charts and contributes around 30% of the world’s coffee. Colombia, Vietnam and Indonesia are also big players. Unfortunately, there is a gap between what the coffee producing countries are earning and the rising profits in coffee consuming countries. Experts in the coffee market are calling this the ‘coffee paradox’. Each year, coffee sales exceed £55 billion but the countries growing and producing coffee only get a £4 billion share.
very day, we sip on an estimated 2 billion cups of coffee around the world. But who are the people behind your morning coffee?
Around 25 million families produce and sell coffee for a living. Coffee has become one of the most widely traded commodities globally and so many people rely on the coffee industry for their livelihoods.
Paul presented a Kenyan coffee that had tea like qualities with hints of bright grapefruit
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Coffee Paradox
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The Eden Project in Cornwall is the only place in the UK that grows coffee
The average arabica coffee price is around 55p to 90p per pound. Whereas if companies are Fairtrade, the farmers receive £1 per pound. This is one of the reasons why Fairtrade coffee is becoming increasingly popular, sales have risen by 8% for the first time since 2013. Buying Fairtrade means protecting the farmers and their communities, but it also makes sure your morning coffee is not only fair but tastes great too. 21.04.17 The Bristolian 17
London Coffee Festival
The aftermath of Brexit left the country full of uncertainty. One thing people didn’t anticipate was our favourite wake up drink could be under threat.
I’ll take a coffee to go
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aking coffee is one of my passions and Bristol is such a creative place so the two go together really well.” Tonia Ceparano has worked as a barista in Bristol for nearly a year now, “It’s worrying because since Brexit I don’t know if I’ll be allowed to stay or whether I’ll have to go back home to Italy.” Hundreds of baristas come from abroad and may be forced to go back home, so in only a matter of years we could be in coffee shop crisis.
The scheme, suggested by the Migration Watch UK chairman Lord Green, is similar to the Youth Mobility Scheme used in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. This could save our cafes, pubs and restaurants and maintain links with Europe. However, these would only be short term links and after 2 years the job would need to be filled again.
He thinks the coffee sector is very exposed, “if you look at the main ingredients of the coffee industry it relies on access to products and to people outside of the UK. We can’t grow our own coffee.”
Research by Allegra Insights predicted that the UK coffee shops need to recruit 40,000 new baristas The Home Office are currently thinking by 2025 to keep up the of a contingency plan, and the idea of a current growth levels. ‘barista visa’ has been announced. This would grant European citizens a 2-year Jeffrey Young, managing director at Allegra Insights, visa to work in the hospitality industry. is concerned about the future of the UK coffee market, he told Buzzfeed news: “it’s not just baristas, it’s store managers and head office [staff]. There are huge numbers of people who have invested many, many years into this sector.” 18 The Bristolian 21.04.17
What do festivals remind you of? Glastonbury, music, camping… coffee?
Imagine everything to do with coffee, then think bigger. London Coffee Festival prides itself in being THE event for the coffee obsessed. Over 30,000 people attend the event each year to celebrate, compete and taste the best brew around. Naomi Sandercock attended this year to see what went on.
Norman Jay mixing his groovy tracks for the festival
If this plan goes ahead it will be interesting to see how the scheme will tackle ongoing uncertainty without making the hospitality industry unstable.
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nce upon a time coffee would come two ways: white or black. Now it isn’t just a drink, it’s an art form, it’s a cocktail, it’s a beauty product. You could find all of that and more under the roof of the Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. London Coffee Festival (LCF) is part of UK coffee week, up and down the country people in the coffee industry hold fundraising events. This is donated to Project Waterfall so that coffee growing communities can have access to clean water.
A Home Office spokesman said: “However, as we are currently considering the various options to how EU migration might work once we have left, it would be wrong to set out further positions at this stage.” Many baristas are feeling doubt, including Tonia, “Even if I can stay in Bristol for two years, this scheme still means I will have to leave eventually. I don’t want to have to give up a job I love.”
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Over 250 artisan coffee and food stalls were giving samples and boasting new innovations. Starbucks were trialling their new cold brew, complimented by a sweet vanilla cream. There was cactus water from Truenopal, because staying hydrated is just as important as coffee. And when drinking coffee isn’t enough, people ate the new espresso spread from Flat Brew. Aside from the treats for the taste buds, there were also beauty products made from the famous bean, such as Pinwheels’ Americano coffee lip balm. You can now wear your favourite bean too; Rosalie McMillian was displaying her luxury jewellery made from recycled coffee. Not only sustainable but the designs are simple and stylish. Wherever there’s coffee, there will be baristas. 20 competitors took part in the tough Coffee Masters competition over the four days. They must be skilled in seven disciplines: cupping, brewing, latte art, signature drink, order of espresso drinks, origin 20 The Bristolian 21.04.17
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t’s common knowledge that chocolate and coffee are a great match, and Hotel Chocolat were there to prove it. They handed out deluxe hot chocolate and their ‘Ice of the Gods’ smooth ice cream around the impressive centrepiece, an 8ft chocolate tower.
Don’t worry about missing out on the party, you can create your own espresso martini at home with this recipe:
knowledge and creating espresso blends. Contenders came from all over the world from Costa Rica to Czech Republic and England to showcase their passion and creativity. It was a very close contest but the winner of Coffee Masters 2017 was James Wise, representing Hyde in England.
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hat better way to kick off a festival than to have a party? LCF paired up with Baileys to host the Espresso Martini Party. With co-founder of KISS FM Norman Jay as DJ, there were plenty of feel good tunes to keep everyone dancing. Food pairing workshops run over the weekend to educate people on the perfect coffee and food combinations. You could try chocolate parfait, grind espresso streusel and candied hazelnuts with Kenyan coffee and many other matches.
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Like wine, coffee has a diverse range of flavours. From fruity to zesty to dark and chocolatey. Union Roasters held the Ultimate Flavour Challenge to test your nose and taste buds to find the perfect bean match for you. There were also live roasting demonstrations, where the smell of fresh coffee filled the event hall.
Hotel Chocolats’ huge chocolate tower impressed event goers (top) Union’s Ultimate Flavour Challenge was one of the busiest stands (middle) Plenty of latte art could be seen throughout the weekend (bottom)
New and exciting concepts have made making your own coffee even easier. Cafflano presented their ‘all in one coffee maker’. The portable cup can grind beans and brew coffee for a really fresh drink on the go. LCF proves that you can never stop learning about coffee, it’s an endless subject. It also shows that there are plenty of people completely coffee obsessed and many more join in the craze each year. If you want to join the coffee mad festival, the next one is 12-15 April 2018. But if you can’t wait that long, there is The New York Coffee Festival 13-15 October 2017 (any excuse for a city break).
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Love the unusual
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iferblat is a home away from home, they pride themselves in bringing all your favourite things from home to the centre of Shoreditch. ‘Strangers become friends at Ziferblat’ is written in swirly writing next to a guitar on the wall. Sophie, a volunteer there says , “you can treat this place like
A coffee shop can’t just be a coffee shop anymore. Doughnut cafes, bookshop cafes, bike cafes, you name it and it probably exists. Dual businesses are thriving at the moment and it’s easy to see why, (especially if there’s coffee involved) it’s like a buy one get one free deal. Here are some of the best: Roll for the Soul, Bristol
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he Roll for the Soul cafe in Bristol is showing people that cyclists are “not just weirdos in Lycra”, as the manager Rob Wall put it. “The aim is to have a social space for all the cyclists around the city, because only real weirdos hang out in bike shops all the time.” The not-for-profit cafe has an open bike workshop and they will gladly chat to the
customers. However, they also run events that aren’t to do with bikes at all, for example live music and charities can use the cafe space to run workshops. As far as the future is concerned, Rob has one main ambition, “Survival. As long as we are here in several years time and carry on doing something useful for the community, I’ll be happy.”
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your own home, make a cup of tea or help yourself to biscuits. You can play a record or play a board game. This place was made to be a social place.” All the flowers, food and coffee is donated by visitors. The only thing you have to pay for is your time, and at 5p a minute, it is worth it.
At the well, Bristol
et up by the three Grist sisters, ‘At the well’ is a café launderette with a friendly and homely atmosphere. Lily, the youngest of the sisters, runs the café now but the idea came from her oldest sister, “Ellen would sneak out of the laudrette to get a take away coffee. She would
half hate doing her washing but half love it because she had the excuse to have a coffee and read a book. You don’t often have time to relax without feeling guilty. This is why we wanted to set up ‘At the well’, it can be a place to get washing done and unwind.”
Crosstown cafe, London
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oughnuts and coffee, is there really any better combination? Not in my opinion. Crosstown cafe is tucked away in Shoreditch and is dedicated to great coffee and fun doughnuts including matcha and chai custard flavours - but also the classic
Caffeine Club, Plymouth
ver fancied a coffee at 4am? No? You may think it’s strange but Caffeine Club, a 24hr cafe in Plymouth, doesn’t seem to struggle for business at that time. After seeing a gap in the market, Caffeine Club opened next door to Plymouth arts college
Ziferblat, London
and the university, now students gather there at all times of the day for their coffee kick. The manager, Jessica Perritt works around the clock, “Apart from the lunch time rush, the busiest time is around 2am-5am and about 99% of those customers are students.”
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jam. The minimalistic interiors create a stressfree environment, and even the seats and lights are shaped like doughnuts.
Is the nation addicted to coffee culture? I think the answer is yes.
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Brian Wogan, founder of Wogan Coffee